Circuit breaker actuator mechanism

Abstract

A trip actuator includes a trip arm configured to provide an actuating force for unlatching the circuit breaker operating mechanism and an actuator mechanism for changing the state of the circuit breaker accessory. The actuator mechanism includes a first lever biased to rotate in a first direction about a first axis and a latch assembly releasably restraining the first lever from rotating in the first direction. The latch assembly includes a second lever and a slide. The slide is operably coupled to the second lever, and the slide releasably restrains the first lever. The second lever moves the slide to release the first lever when the actuating force is applied to the second lever.

1 . A trip actuator for unlatching a circuit breaker operating mechanism and for changing a state of a circuit breaker accessory, the trip actuator comprising: 
 a trip arm configured to provide an actuating force for unlatching the circuit breaker operating mechanism; and    an actuator mechanism for changing the state of the circuit breaker accessory, the actuator mechanism including: 
 a first lever biased to rotate in a first direction about a first axis, and a latch assembly including: 
 a second lever, and  
 a slide operably coupled to said second lever, said slide releasably restrains said first lever; and  
 wherein application of said actuating force to said second lever positions said slide to release said first lever.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . The trip actuator of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a reset lever operably coupled to the operating mechanism, said reset lever including a reset pin disposed thereon; and    wherein said first lever includes a camming surface formed thereon, said reset pin contacts said camming surface, and said first lever rotates about said axis in a direction opposite said first direction under the force of said reset pin.    
     
     
         3 . The trip actuator of  claim 2 , wherein said first lever forces said slide in a direction away from said first lever as said first lever rotates about said axis in said direction opposite said first direction.  
     
     
         4 . The trip actuator of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a frame, said trip arm is pivotally attached to said frame; and    wherein said actuator mechanism further includes: 
 a base secured to said frame, said base including 
 a generally flat surface,  
 a pin extending from said generally flat surface, said pin pivotally retaining said second lever, and  
 a housing disposed on said generally flat surface, said housing slidably retaining said slide.  
 
   
     
     
         5 . The trip actuator of  claim 4 , wherein said first lever includes: 
 an axle pivotally attached to said frame;    a first arm extending from said axle, said first arm is releasably coupled to said slide; and    a second arm extending from said axle, said second arm is positioned proximate to the circuit breaker accessory.    
     
     
         6 . The trip actuator of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said slide includes a latching surface and an unlatching surface formed thereon,    said second lever includes a latching shoulder and an unlatching shoulder formed thereon, and    wherein said second lever is movable between a first position and a second position, said latching shoulder contacts said latching surface in said first position and said unlatching shoulder contacts said unlatching surface in said second position.    
     
     
         7 . A circuit breaker including: 
 a housing;    an operating mechanism positioned within said housing, said operating mechanism including a latch, said latch is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position;    an accessory positioned within said housing;    a trip actuator positioned within said housing, said trip actuator including: 
 a trip arm configured to provide an actuating force for moving said latch from  
 said latched position to said unlatched position, and  
 an actuator mechanism configured to change a state of said accessory, said actuator mechanism including: 
 a first lever biased to rotate in a first direction about a first axis, rotation of said first lever in said first direction changes the state of said accessory, and  
 a latch assembly releasably retaining said first lever; and  
 wherein application of said actuating force to said latch assembly releases said first lever to rotate in said first direction about said first axis.  
 
   
     
     
         8 . The circuit breaker of  claim 7 , wherein said latch assembly includes: 
 a second lever;    a slide operably coupled to said second lever, said slide releasably restrains said first lever, and application of said actuating force to said second lever positions said slide to release said first lever.    
     
     
         9 . The circuit breaker of  claim 7 , wherein said trip actuator further includes: 
 a reset lever operably coupled to the operating mechanism, said reset lever including a reset pin disposed thereon; and    wherein said first lever includes a camming surface formed thereon, said reset pin contacts said camming surface, and said first lever rotates about said axis in a direction opposite said first direction under the force of said reset pin.    
     
     
         10 . The circuit breaker of  claim 8 , wherein said first lever forces said slide in a direction away from said first lever as said first lever rotates about said axis in a direction opposite said first direction.  
     
     
         11 . The circuit breaker of  claim 8 , wherein said trip actuator further includes: 
 a frame, said trip arm is pivotally attached to said frame; and    wherein said actuator mechanism further includes: 
 a base secured to said frame, said base including 
 a generally flat surface,  
 a pin extending from said generally flat surface, said pin pivotally retaining said second lever, and  
 a housing disposed on said generally flat surface, said housing slidably retaining said slide.  
 
   
     
     
         12 . The circuit breaker of  claim 11 , wherein said first lever includes: 
 an axle pivotally attached to said frame;    a first arm extending from said axle, said first is releasably coupled to said slide; and    a second arm extending from said axle, said second arm is positioned proximate to said accessory.    
     
     
         13 . A trip actuator for unlatching a circuit breaker operating mechanism and for changing a state of a circuit breaker accessory, the trip actuator comprising: 
 a lever;    means for releasably restraining said lever; and    means for providing an actuating force to unlatch the circuit breaker operating mechanism, wherein application of said actuating force to said latch means releases said lever to change the state of the circuit breaker accessory.